Do the Rockets not need a point guard? Lowry deal lacks sense

Houston dealt its most valuable asset for a future draft pick and a bench player

Houston Rockets' Kyle Lowry reacts to a play during overtime of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets beat the Trail Blazers 107-105 in overtime. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

LAS VEGAS - Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has never been one to shy away from cutting edge processes, but his latest innovation is a bit of a head-scratcher: Attempting to build a team without a point guard.

That's not entirely true, of course, but the way things look right now the Rockets may have to bring Stevie Franchise back to play point next season.

Houston had an all-star caliber point guard last season in Kyle Lowry but it appears that his days as a Rocket are over. According to multiple reports, Lowry has been traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a first-round draft pick and forward Gary Forbes.

Lowry's relationship with head coach Kevin McHale deteriorated at the end of last season when Lowry returned from a stomach illness and found himself as the backup. Lowry had put together an all-star worthy season before having to sit out a few weeks with that virus, which is when Goran Dragic upped his game and put together his own impressive stretch of high level basketball, one that earned him the starting job for the final month of the year. When Dragic agreed to terms with Phoenix Suns last night, it appeared as if Lowry's tenure in Houston could continue since he would be clearly be the starter. But apparently that wasn't the case.

Lowry will join a growing Raptors squad that should compete for a low playoff spot in the Eastern Conference next year thanks to the addition of Lowry and the immigration of Lithuanian big man Jonas Valančiūnas, who was the fifth overall pick in last year's draft. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, who acted as a defensive coordinator for the Dallas Mavericks during their championship run, turned a previously fragile Toronto squad into a formidable opponent last year and Lowry's aggressive and hard-nosed style of play will only further Casey's attempt to turn the Raptors into a defensively sound team.

Houston secured themselves a lottery pick and a decent end-of-rotation wing in Forbes in but that haul reeks of disappointment. Not only is Lowry an all-star caliber point guard, he's also on the best non-rookie contract in the league. He is worth way more than a lottery pick. Even worse, Lowry was initially being shopped so that Dragic could take over the starting point guard role for the Rockets; but now both Lowry and Dragic will suit up for other teams next season. Houston has made an offer to Jeremy Lin but, especially with Steve Nash off the market, the New York Knicks are not going to let the restricted free agent get away.

That puts Houston on Plan F: They're expected to meet with point guard Aaron Brooks over the weekend. Brooks is a restricted free agent but the Suns, who now have Dragic and 13th overall pick Kendall Marshall at the point guard spot, aren't likely to match any offer for the Rockets.

Here is how Houston is hoping things will unfold: With Toronto's lottery pick in tow, they will put together a strong package of young, old and future assets to offer the Orlando Magic in a potential Dwight Howard trade. With the exception of the Los Angeles Lakers, who can offer franchise caliber center Andrew Bynum, the Rockets can put together the best offer for Howard. On top of that, the Rockets will be calling the New Orleans Hornets and asking them whatever leftover assets the Rockets have intrigue them so that they can put together a sign-and-trade offer for restricted free agent Eric Gordon, who has currently agreed to an offer sheet with the Phoenix Suns that can't be official until July 11th.

Like always, Morey's plan is solid. But it is just so hard to imagine the dominoes falling into place. If the Rockets can't secure either Dwight or Gordon, odds are they might finally enter the rebuilding process that they've been holding off for the past few years. Houston can deal Kevin Martin and Luis Scola for picks or expiring contracts and move forward with a bunch of promising young players and draft picks.

Dealing away Lowry, unless Morey pulls off a miracle, is one way for the Rockets to go in a new direction with their franchise. Instead of latching onto the hope of making a blockbuster deal for a superstar every year Houston can look to get one on their own by way of the draft. It likely means a few disappointing and hard to watch seasons in the near future but if the end result is a better, younger core in 2015, I think it will be far better than running against the wind in mediocrity for a few more years while coming up with a new pipe dream every season.